I was thinking contacting directly via email, not via a forum. I also asked a question four months ago in Head-Direct's own thread here on Head-Fi, and still haven't gotten an answer. Maybe they have chosen to withdraw from forums?

Very disappointing experience today with my replacement HM-901. All of a sudden I find that I didn't have my right channel. It wasn't due to the volume wheel as before. This time playing with the Balanced/Normal switch brought it back. Interestingly enough, the issue only occurs when I start the unit without having headphones plugged in. If I start it up with headphones plugged in there's no channel issue. Still, not a good thing. I suppose this one will be going back as well.

I know that it is not easy to hear much about the minibox amp card. However, I managed to get my grubby hands on one just today.

Two things:

Firstly, the myth that it will blow IEMs out of the water is not quite borne out: I've run the Fitear F111 with Black Dragon on it. The Fitear F111 has suddenly really found its voice. It suddenly has hit the range, timbre and details I was starting to despair over. The mini box card really flattered the F111. It could be that the F111, like the ER4S, needs that extra oomph for it to showcase its true capabilities.

Secondly, I ran the minibox with the AKG 702, which is notoriously difficult to drive. On the HM-901 with minibox card, the AKG 702 found its voice beautifully: wonderful details, textures, depth of soundstage as well as breadth, and bass. In fact, the AKG 702 sounded, dare I say it, musical. It was being driven effortlessly by the HM-901.

I just wanted to put down my initial impressions of the minibox card. :)

Btw, for those of you who have been waiting for the HM-802, you will be glad to know that it has just been released in China on 8 December. Which means it is on it's way to the rest of the world in due course.

How do you guys feel the Minibox, balanced and iem cards compare with iems? I am using balanced card and it sounds great, but if there is better...

Mike, as someone who is blessed enough to have all the amp cards, for IEMs, my personal preference is for the IEM amp card which gives me the most refined and detailed sound on my IEMs. Hope that helps.

Mike, as someone who is blessed enough to have all the amp cards, for IEMs, my personal preference is for the IEM amp card which gives me the most refined and detailed sound on my IEMs. Hope that helps.

And for IEMs, how does the IEM card compare to Minibox and balanced? Because the lattter are more powerful, so do they not have more authority in the bass, or better dynamic. I really did not like how I felt the AK120 lacked power to properly drive even iems.